June 2014

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. Pui-Ling “Melissa” Chan, assistant professor of environmental sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the recipient of the SIUE 2014 Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award. The SIUE Graduate School presents the award to tenure-track faculty members whose scholarly activities have the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of study and to the University in general.

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine fourth-year student Alexandria Hawkins was selected by the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) to receive the 2014 Colgate Research Award for showing academic distinction and demonstrating excellence in research.

Hawkins is one of only 10 students nationally to receive the $500 award. The winners will be listed in the August issue of the AAWD’s Chronicle newsletter.

SIUE’s STEM Center is assisting with the Edwardsville District 7 Summer Zone program through June into July. Edwardsville Intelligencer writer Julia Biggs described the STEM Center’s role during the eight-week Zone program in an article posted June 27. Each week, SIUE representatives lead activities that touch on various STEM fields. Read the story.

The Illinois Education Research Council (IERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been awarded a two-year, $500,000 grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and a two-year $50,000 grant from the Wallace Foundation.

The McCormick Foundation grant will allow the IERC to examine the initial implementation of Illinois’ new policy for redesigning principal preparation programs from the university and pre-K through 12th grade perspectives.

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees has confirmed Dr. Laura Bernaix as interim dean of the SIUE School of Nursing effective July 1. The Board met in a special session Tuesday, June 24, at B. Barnard Birger Hall on the SIUE campus.

Bernaix, a professor and associate dean of academic programs in the School of Nursing, replaces Dr. Anne G. Perry who will retire at the end of June after 10 years at SIUE.

Bernaix brings 25 years of academic experience as an SIUE faculty member. ...

The St. Louis Suburban Journals reports that U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) honored SIUE alum Dr. Ed Hightower on the floor of the U.S. House to congratulate the Edwardsville School District 7 superintendent on his upcoming retirement. Hightower is also a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees. Read the story.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe traveled to Beijing, China during the week of June 16 with a goal of establishing educational collaborations with Minzu University of China (MUC) and the Communication University of China (CUC).

Furst-Bowe met with officials at both universities including the MUC Vice President Dr. Song Min and the directors of international relations, graduate schools and faculty representatives. She is familiar with MUC as her previous inst...

The Scouting Alumni Association of the Boy Scouts of America selected SIUE alum Rick Bragga, of Richmond, Va., as the 2014 National Alumnus of the Year Award recipient. Bragga earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mass communications from SIUE in 1977 and ’82, respectively.

Ed Pease, national alumni committee chair, presented the award May 23 at the National Eagle Scout Association’s Americanism breakfast, which took place during the BSA’s National Annual ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville announced today that it is officially changing the name of its School of Education to the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. The name change is effective Tuesday, July 1.

The new name more accurately reflects the breadth of the School’s academic program offerings. The School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as licensure programs in:

SIUE alum Matt Herndon is the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) Middle School Teacher of the Year. Herndon has taught physical education to 6th-8th graders at Lewis & Clark Junior High School in Wood River for the past 16 years.

Herndon will be honored at IAHPERD’s state awards reception Thursday, Nov. 20, at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill., during the group’s annual convention.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. Melodie Rowbotham presented her research “The Impact of Faculty Development on Teaching Self-Efficacy, Teaching Skills and Retention” during The Teaching Professor Conference in Boston May 31.

Rowbotham is an associate professor in the SIUE School of Nursing and is coordinator of Faculty Development. She is an Illinois Education Research Council (IERC) Faculty Research Fellow and her research is partially funded by the IERC.

High school students from across the region and as far away as California concluded the second of two sessions Friday, June 20, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2014 Engineering Summer Camp. The SIUE School of Engineering’s popular residential camp brought 71 high school students to campus during two week-long sessions. Approximately 35 students participated in each of the programs.

The Engineering Summer Camp’s June 7-13 and June 16-20 sessions both included a w...

In 10 years, a former Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center student plans to have his company’s name in one other country besides the U.S.

“Eventually, I see my company (2Dots Electronics) being like another Apple Inc.,” said Brandon Rice of East St. Louis. Rice was a four-year participant of the Upward Bound BEM Program at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. He also graduated from the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) in 2013, ranking fourth ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.

Meals will be provided to all SIUE East St. Louis Center Summer Program enrolled children free of charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in partnership with the Illinois Center for Transportation and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is introducing the Traffic Incident Management Training Program.

“The online program is designed for emergency responders, including transportation workers, police, fire and towing and recovery crews,” said Ryan Fries, associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Civil Engineering within SIUE’s Sch...

SIUE student-athletes have reached another milestone – 16 consecutive semesters (eight years) with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) better than 3.0.

SIUE student-athletes completed the 2014 spring semester with a 3.095 grade point average. Among the 228 SIUE student-athletes, 66.7 percent completed the term with a GPA of 3.0 or above and 29 percent finished the spring semester as members of the Dean’s List with a GPA of 3.5 or above.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’ Melissa Mace will participate in the fifth annual EducationUSA Forum in Washington D.C. from June 23-25.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the EducationUSA Forum will bring together 550 university representatives with over 60 EducationUSA regional educational experts and advisors from around the world. They will discuss strategies for helping international students to study in the United...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2014 Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp was featured in the Belleville News-Democrat last week. Writer Jamie Forsythe posted the following story

Thursday, June 12:

Hands-on health care camp highlights medical careers

With two pharmacists as parents, Edwardsville High School senior Philip Siganga, 17, says he’s destined for a career in health care. He’s interested in pharmaceutical, but wanted to learn about other medical fields.

When it comes to the overall institutional campus climate score for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville made the honor roll.

SIUE’s LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index rose to 4.5 out of 5 stars.

“SIUE continues to strive for excellence and to create a diverse and inclusive campus community and this is evident by our continuous improvement in ensuring an LGBT friendly campus,” said Dr. Venessa Brown, associate pro...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe has appointed Chad Martinez as director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination. He assumes his new duties effective July 3.

Martinez arrives on the SIUE campus after serving as an equity officer in Saint Louis University’s Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity since 2010. He was the deputy Title IX coordinator and was on the Sexual Assault Working Group that adopted a new policy to a...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has appointed Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe to the Board of Overseers for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Board members serve three-year terms without compensation.

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Congress established the Baldrige Program in 1987 to recognize U.S. companies for the...

A select group of area high school students visited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Pharmacy Thursday, June 12, during SIUE’s 2014 Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp. The week-long camp concludes today.

Students have participated in the residential summer camp that exposed them to potential careers in the areas of nursing, dental medicine and pharmacy. Participating in the weeklong sessions were the SIUE School of Nursing, SIU School of Dental Medicine and...

Saturday, June 14, marks Flag Day, the federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the United States flag. The observation of the holiday offers a moment to recognize the hard work of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville staff members who provide day-to-day care for the flags on campus.

Since the SIUE campus was established in 1957, operating engineers have been caring for the United States Flag. Today, a team of 20 operating engineers share the responsibility of caring for the t...

A select group of area high school students heard lessons about CPR, the human anatomy and dentistry at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2014 Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp.

Students have participated all week in the residential summer camp that exposed them to potential careers in the area of nursing, dental medicine and pharmacy. Participating in the weeklong sessions are the SIUE School of Nursing, SIU School of Dental Medicine and the SIUE School of Pharmacy.

The award-winning SIUE School of Engineering Solar Car Team received a nearly $8,000 donation and sponsorship from Drytac Corporation. A Hot Press™ Heated Glass Top Vacuum Press was donated to aid the team with solar array encapsulation, a sealing process which increases the solar cell panel’s strength and protects it from external elements.

Jay Knight rolled into the Hairpin at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville early this morning on his bicycle. The alum stopped at SIUE as part of his efforts to raise $100,000 for sick children and pay homage to his friend and fallen soldier, Lance Corporal Johnny Strong.

Knight left SIUE headed to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, accompanied by Dean Bennett. There he planned to visit hospital staff, who work with sick children. Monies raised will be used to purchase video games, toys,...

The freshly brewed aroma of success is wafting through a new coffeehouse in Granite City thanks to top-notch business expertise provided by the Metro East Small Business Development Center.

Kool Beanz Café, 1316 Niedringhaus Avenue, opened Tuesday, April 15, as a much-needed addition to the city’s new downtown arts and entertainment district. Founder and Granite City native Victoria Arguelles, along with her husband Eduardo and brother David Edrington, had planned this start-up for y...

SIUE’s Braxton Klavins ran his second fastest 400-meter race of the season Wednesday, but did not qualify for the finals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Heyward Field.

The junior from Lake Zurich ran 46.40 seconds in the third of three semifinal heats. He finished fourth in the heat and 16th overall. The top two finishers in each heat and the next two fastest times advanced to Friday’s final.

SIUE Athletics earned a national award Tuesday for its promotion last fall when Cougar men’s soccer fans broke a world record for the most Pepsi NEXT cans opened at one time. See the video.

The award was announced at the annual National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) workshop. SIUE had been one of three finalists with Long Beach State University and Portland State for the Sponsorship Activation Group II Best of Awards.

Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn surprised a group of high school students Monday on their first day of the 2014 SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp. Dunn also toured and met with officials at SIUE’s NCERC, the SIUE School of Pharmacy, and the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability.

Dunn welcomed the 16 junior and senior high school students and encouraged them to seriously consider the SIUE School of Pharmacy.

Keynote speaker Dr. Paul F. Kattner, an orthodontist with Kattner Orthodontics in Waukegan, Ill., addressed the 2014 graduating class at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine commencement Saturday, June 7. The ceremony was held in SIUE’s Meridian Ballroom in the Morris University Center and can be seen on siuetv.

Fifty students received a doctor of dental medicine degree. A record 12 alumni participated in the Hooding Ceremony. The School allows an alumnus who is an i...

Sixteen junior and senior high school students from the metropolitan area are on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus this week to take part in the 2014 SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp.

“The primary purpose of the residential camp is to expose minority high school students to healthcare careers that are offered at SIUE,” said Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy, “and provide them with valuable knowledge and skills th...

For almost two months, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum has been riding his bicycle about 55 miles every day, with a 70-pound bike trailer in tow. And if all goes according to schedule, Jay Knight expects to arrive in Edwardsville Sunday night.

“It seemed wrong not to do something to exemplify the good things about his life and to honor him in one final salute,” said Jay Knight of his friend and fellow Marine, Lance Corporal Johnny Strong, who died in combat in Iraq....

A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) alumna recalls when her late grandfather’s homework requirements consisted of her reading the dictionary and performing well on coursework.

A loving, motivating and cultivating environment is what helped steer Chasity Bre’Shay Love-Nkansah to academic excellence. Her most recent educational feat occurred on May 18 when she earned a doctorate in chemistry from Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind. Her...

Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Construction Management students are recipients of Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education and Research Foundation scholarships. AGC awards the $2,500 renewable scholarships to students attending Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accredited schools.

Senior Derek Casey, from Newton, was awarded the Richard and Roxelyn Pepper Scholarship. Casey is an intern for Conn...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine student Erin Syzdek has received the 2014 Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA) Scholarship.

The Palatine native is a third year student. The $1,000 award recognizes a dental student who has demonstrated great potential for developing into an outstanding leader in the profession and in the community. The recipient is also expected to exemplify the qualities of integrity, imagination and initiative as well as display good comm...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Psychology is the recipient of the American Psychological Association (APA) Departmental Award for Culture of Service in the Psychological Sciences.

“For our department’s service activity to be nationally recognized by our discipline’s flagship organization is truly gratifying and exciting,” said Paul Rose, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology within SIUE’s School of Educati...

SIUE’s La’Derrick Ward, Jatavia Wright and Braxton Klavins qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which take place June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. The Cougars competed in the West Preliminaries at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Track during the weekend.

A junior from Alorton, Ward qualified for in the long jump by finishing fifth with a leap of 25 feet, 0.75 inches.

Wright is a junior from Miami Gardens, Fla. She claimed her spot in th...